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Posted (edited)

Okay, after finishing the Land Whore, I realize I still want to do more 70's stuff. And then I thought about Mark's 11-chapter story "On the Mark". Not finished, and not going to be finished, but I thought it would be fun to do music stuff for this story, since in terms of time period setting, it's right between "The Land Whore" and "Be Rad". And it's a way to introduce you to Mark's great work- never finished, but I thought it was a great story. Again, don't get into reading it if you're going to be bothered that it isn't finished, LOL. It's also not as clear about what year each chapter takes place in, so I prolly can't avoid the anachronisms. But, whatever. LOL. Finally, there's a lot of music I wanted to use for Be Rad, or have since discovered since doing the Be Rad story, so...yeah.

 

 

Chapter 1

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-1

-When Mark introduces himself as a nerdy kid in mid-1970's and clues us in on the various styles that kids of the time had.

 

"Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=iTtffG1UKFw

-When Aaron Bryce threatens to beat up Mark after school for being an f-word.

 

"Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z40NhAgNbnM

 

-When Darryl stands up for Mark, becoming his friend in the process.

 

"You're My Best Friend" by Queen

 

-When Darryl corrupts Mark with oral sex and weed.

 

"Have A Cigar" by Pink Floyd

 

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 2

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-2

 

-When Mark notices the next day at school that his social standing has ever-so slightly improved, and hangs out with Darryl's burner friends.

 

"Long Way to the Top" by AC/DC

 

-At Darryl's house, where Mark checks out Derrick's bulge and butt in his blue jeans while they get high.

 

"Blue Jeans" by Skyhooks

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=XQnYSI_tCD0

 

-When Mark convinces Darryl to go his house to swim, but gives him a blow job beforehand.

 

"You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted

We're just on chapter 2. Trust me, we're going to find out a lot more. LOL.

Posted (edited)

Chapter 3

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-3

 

-When Darryl starts the process of turning Mark into an athletic swimmer.

 

"Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple

 

-When Mark describes his neighborhood friends, who range from upper middle class to rich, and cool to utter snob.

 

"Young Americans" by David Bowie

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=QiaoRdOUPI8

 

-When Darryl shows Mark how to "kiss a girl". Among other things.

 

"Show Me the Way" by Peter Frampton

 

 

-When Darryl "leaves for the weekend", and Mark spends the day listening to maudlin 70's songs before Mari gets him out of his "maudlin tailspin".

 

"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ClgfwBMsB1w

 

"Midnight Blue" by Melissa Manchester

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=55rasuh3VfQ

 

"Wildfire" by Michael Murphy

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DIkpqdjU-qo

 

-When Mark runs into Darryl at the mall, who's "picking up things" before he leaves.

 

"Lying Eyes" by Eagles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN83XfUVWQU

 

-For the 4th of July party...America celebrates its 200th birthday, while Mark gets befuddled by his continuing sexual maturation that seems to be pointing him in two directions.

 

"Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 4

 

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-4

 

-When Mark and Darryl sit around the pool, getting baked and listening to songs on the radio.

 

"Carry on My Wayward Son" by Kansas

 

 

"Blinded by the Light" by Bruce Springsteen

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=BN6zFN8cAPs

 

"Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynrd

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=pw3mFzet48c

 

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

 

 

-When Mark and Mari hook up in his pool for the first time, and Mark gets to second base.

 

"Sarah Smile" by Hall and Oates

 

 

-When Van's parents drive him and Mark up to the mountains for some hiking.

 

"Disco Duck" by Rick Dee

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ym2bXh6v0yo

 

"Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=7lu81z2E6pE

 

-When Mark finds the pot field.

 

"This Will Be" by Natalie Cole

 

 

-When Mark and Van get high, and fool around with each for the first time.

 

"Fly, Robin, Fly" by Silver Convention

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DyNnHiFHsXY

 

-On the ride back home, listening to more disco.

 

"Right Back Where We Started From" by Maxine Nightingale

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87LlIN25izI

 

"Love Machine" by the Miracles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFoLjFGKMHw

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted

Excellent choices, Jeremy. Especially Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen'. That's always been one of my favorites. But I'll have to disagree with your description of the song as maudlin. It's brutal, not maudlin.

Posted (edited)

Excellent choices, Jeremy. Especially Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen'. That's always been one of my favorites. But I'll have to disagree with your description of the song as maudlin. It's brutal, not maudlin.

 

Good point. I just thought it fit the mood of 14-year old Mark moping around in his bedroom over the boy sending out mixed signals. "At Seventeen" is SUCH a good brooding song, I think. But "Wildfire" and "Midnight Blue" were especially cheesy, I think. But in a good way.

 

I have two cheesy songs in mind for this story- "Sentimental Lady" and "Brokenhearted Me", but they're from 1978, so I can't use them just yet since it's still 1976 in this story.

 

One thing that's nice about doing music for this is the fact that Mark already has so many song pics for a lot of the scenes. Nice. Makes this easier. LOL.

 

So far, my favorite pick has been "Sarah Smile" for Mark finally getting to fool around with a girl. I love that song. And it's something you can imagine a person losing their virginity to. (Or, in this case, finally getting to second base for the first time. With a girl.)

 

I also really liked the comedic mental image of Mark being so thrilled at finding a pot field that "This Will Be' plays. LOL.

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 5

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-5

 

-When Mark and Mari lose their virginity to each other, at the tender age of 14.

 

"Baby, I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e08HdcvRjZQ

 

-When Mark and Mari have sex in the pool, Mark discovers the female g-spot, and Mark's father catches them.

 

"Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=h1ArZEFwRsY

 

-When Mark is awakened by Darryl in the morning, and his resolve to never talk to him again is shattered by their passionate hook-up.

 

"Magic Man" by Heart

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=cYjgh-znxB4

 

-After swimming, when Mark tells Darryl about his thing with Mari, but promises him that they're going to still keep their own thing going.

 

"Mama Mia" by ABBA

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 6

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-6

 

-When Mark argues with his parents until he gets what he wants- Van on the trip with him to the beach.

 

"Teenage Rampage" by The Sweet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-3IEFkYq7g

-When Mark and Van fool around together, kissing passionately.

 

"Feel Like Making Love" by Bad Company

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOFwfPL54aY

 

-When Mark tells Van that he loves him, and feels that he just might have ruined everything.

 

"Heart on My Sleeve" by Gallagher and Lyle

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=4szFzwjiQ2M

 

-When Mark clues us in on how his freshmen year of high school goes, with him becoming a popular semi-jock and good-looking, and making good friends.

 

"Do You Know Where You're Going To?" by Diana Ross

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=EUYliAP7tIg

 

-When Mark describes one of his weekend sleepovers with Darryl, who is becoming even hotter.

 

"Saturday Night" by The Bay City Rollers

-Summer '77, when Mark walks to Harry's house for the summer rager.

 

"Calling Dr. Love" by Kiss

 

-When Mark walks up the stairs to Harry's house, and finds Mari having sex with someone.

 

"Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner

 

-When Mark kicks the crap out of Aaron Bryce, Mari's lover.

 

"Barracuda" by Heart

 

-When Mark calms down, and stars crying about how he lost his love, Marianne. TOTALLY milking the teenage drama for all it was worth.

 

"More than A Feeling" by Boston

 

-When Van decides to comfort Mark...with sex.

 

"Heartbeat" by The Runaways

Edited by methodwriter85
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Chapter 7

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-7

 

-When Mark plays third wheel with Van and Tanya, and actually manages to become good with Tanya.

 

"Hey, Deanie" by Shaun Cassidy

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=NXn4aOVK-Ng

 

-When Mark causes a scene with Mari's mother, spraying her with a hose.

 

"Cold As Ice" by Foreigner

-When Mark and Van wrestle around before hooking up.

 

"You Make Loving Fun" by Fleetwood Mac

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=MWFU1Yjyv5A

 

-When Mark gives Van a massage as prelude to some gnarly sex.

 

"Touch Me" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show

 

-When Mark goes to San Francisco by himself, taking in the scenery...and the catcalls.

 

"Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMqg-MQRI9I

 

 

-When Mark is sunning out in his pool, gets splashed, and finds Darryl's goofy lopsided grin staring back at him. And then sex happens.

 

"Heat Wave" by Linda Ronstadt

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DmwrqldUdCc

 

-When Mark talks about sophomore year, and how Mari is labeled a slut, and he somehow manages to patch things up with Aaron Bryce by joking with him about what a whore she is.

 

"Lay Down Sally" by Eric Clapton

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=EivR78mrRFE

 

-When Mark finds out about Darryl getting outed. And freaks out, worried that Darryl's misfortune will turn him into an unloved, lonely freak.

 

"All By Myself" by Eric Carmen

 

-When Darryl comes to Mark's house, beaten up, and Mark's mother takes Darryl over to the hospital.

 

"Point of No Return" by Kansas

 

-When Darryl lies about going to an aunt in the City, and he says good-bye to Mark and his parents, leaving for parts unknown.

 

"Dust in the Wind" by Kansas

****

Mark, you were one seriously emotional teenager. Geez.

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Revised Chapter 8

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-8

 

-When Mark talks about the changes that Darryl's departure has wrought, including the fact that Van will no longer experiment with him anymore. Nor will any other guys who might have been interested.

 

"Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbZhj6H9kfY

 

-When Mark and his father work on Mark's 1968 Mustang Flashback.

 

"Copacabana" by Barry Manilow

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=B_o8F36CfHU

-When Mark gives a blowjob to his manager, Ken. And it starts a series of one-sided blowjobs.

 

"Orgasm Addict" by Buzzcocks

 

 

-When Mark confronts the manager about the way he uses him for sex, and the manager goes apeshit.

 

"What Do I Get?" by Buzzcocks

 

 

-When Mark and Van spend a few days at the beach, and Mark gets lucky with a girl named Dawn, who's very sexually compatible.

 

"Night Moves" by Bob Seeger

 

-On the final night at the beach, when Mark and Van finally get together and have sex again.

 

"Thicker than Water" by Andy Gibb

 

-When Van kisses away Mark's tears and makes love to him one last time.

 

"We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seeger

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Mj7SD9BPwcU

 

-When Mark says goodbye to Van at the airport.

 

"Brokenhearted Me" by Annie Murray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsnqpIXHaNE

 

****

I was orginally going to use "Brokenhearted Me" for something else, but damn. Reading that part again, I really could not let those scenes go without having "Brokenhearted Me" scoring it. And I decided to revise a little, because I heard "We've Got Tonight" and realized it was released in 1978, so I HAD to use it for that love scene and used "Brokenhearted Me" for the good-bye scene instead.

 

I hope I made the right choice.

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 9

 

http://nifty.nisusne...k/on-the-mark-9

 

-When Mark is excited on his plane fight, naieve about what the future holds for him.

 

"What A Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jIbUp2IAFc

 

-When Mark meets Matt, a homophobic Alpha male that he's in lust with at first sight.

 

"Denis" by Blondie

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DL6hNSPaJrY

 

-When the chemistry between Mark and Matt becomes pretty apparent in a baseball game and some pool wrestling.

 

"Electricity" by OMD

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ZB1J57LGQfY

 

-When Mark becomes morose, aimless, and depressed for most of his senior year of high school, spending most of his time just driving around the valley and thinking about life.

 

"New Dawn Fades" by Joy Division

 

 

-When Matt tries to rag on the City, and California Boy Mark gets very animated in his defense of his city.

 

"California Uber-Alles" by the Dead Kennedys

 

 

-When Matt and Mark run into an emaciated and VERY femme Darryl in the City.

 

"Sad Eyes" by Robert John

 

 

-When Mark gets "one" thrust with a girl named Claudia in his car for senior prom night, and gets his ass saved by the fact that she's connected to the police.

 

"Sentimental Lady" by Bob Welch

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=jE9CW-QHoUo

 

(What a perfect prom song, right?)

 

****

 

I have a couple of comments about this one...

 

Matt was SOOOOOOO obviously a closetcase homophobe, or at least very curious, and definitely would have gone for Mark had this not been 1980 and a very homophobic time. Also, it seems like Matt and Van have the same sort of body type that seems to drive Mark wild- really big guys with broad shoulders and a soft coating of fat over the muscles so they don't have that ripped look.

 

I'm kinda curious about Darryl- why did he turn into a make-up wearing leather twink? That's pretty interesting. I would figure he prolly would have ended up a hooker, but I thought that he would have been more appealing in short-shorts and a tank top. Anyway, the Darryl moment was orginally going to be "Broken-Hearted Me", but eh. I figure "Sad Eyes" works better there, with "Broken-Hearted Me" working better for when Mark says good-bye to to Van.

 

Finally, leave it to Mark to almost get busted for "lewdness", but be with a girl who just happens to be the daughter of a man the cop respects.

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 10

http://nifty.nisusne.../on-the-mark-10

 

-When Van comes back for the summer, and Mark realizes that their friendship will never be as close as it once was.

 

"We Don't Talk Anymore" by Cliff Richard

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=lr1yBMjx64s

 

-When Mark and Jeremy play "we're asleep yet we're touching each other!" before they hook up in the bathroom.

 

"Does Your Mother Know?" by Abba

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ndCTp5z5TyY

 

-When Mark and Jeremy have sex while Jeremy's frat brothers are away.

 

"Off the Wall" by Michael Jackson

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=PebMKukdyqo

 

-When Mark talks about his increasing infatuation with Matt.

 

"Sometimes A Fantasy" by Billy Joel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb4G8Ad8GTU

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted (edited)

Chapter 11

http://nifty.nisusne.../on-the-mark-11

 

-When Mark sits in class in September 1980, bitches about community college, and then tells us about how culture has changed since his 70's high school days.

 

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJ27TgBvJE

 

-When Mark sneaks out of his computer class, and stumbles into his first cruising encounter with a redhead.

 

"Whip It" by Devo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIEVqFB4WUo

 

-When Mark tells us about his life as a Cruise Boy develops over the next couple of weeks.

 

"Mirror in the Bathroom" by The English Beat

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNpaaPHENE

 

-When Mark hooks up with a hunky blond boy, aka a Crusing Jack Pot.

 

"The Kid Is Hot Tonight" by Loverboy

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=6kaGeApfo9s

***

Alright guys, that's the last of "On the Mark", since Mark has decided not to continue telling the rest of his story.

 

It's been a blast, guys, and I hope you've enjoyed listening to my music selections as much as I have.

Edited by methodwriter85
  • 6 months later...
Posted (edited)

Hey, since someone started a discussion on On the Mark, I thought I'd bump this up.

 

Not to brag, but I think I did a fantastic job, especially with "We've Got Tonight". It really summed up the mood of the scene, and the mood of the time period. I also really liked the use of "Dust in the Wind".

Edited by methodwriter85
Posted

wow, this story is definitely falls under the category of TMI! It actually took me until Chapter three that this story was more or less Mark's early life story :wacko:.

 

And then I understand where he was inspired to write the CAP series :2thumbs:

 

Thanks Mark for sharing this and you really inspired me to write about myself :blink:... Of course it would be a short story about me hitting puberty and then... NOTHING for years to come :P

  • Like 1
  • 5 years later...
Posted

wow, this story is definitely falls under the category of TMI! It actually took me until Chapter three that this story was more or less Mark's early life story wacko.gif.

 

And then I understand where he was inspired to write the CAP series :2thumbs:

 

Thanks Mark for sharing this and you really inspired me to write about myself blink.gif... Of course it would be a short story about me hitting puberty and then... NOTHING for years to come tongue.gif

 

This is 6 years later, but Mark was a 6'3" guy with a swimmer's build who grew up in an upper-middle class neighborhood and was pretty good-looking in that preppie way with auburn hair and hazel eyes he "enhanced" with contacts to make them a vivid green. Of COURSE he got a fair amount of action, save for his depressive senior year. It would be like wondering why "Andy" in Cross-Currents managed to get so much tail as a six-foot tall good looking joCK with solid abs and a rather big endowment. LOL.

 

It's funny to think about how cruising played a big part in the last chapter of the story, but it's pretty much extinct now. Grindr and stuff like that pretty much rendered it irrelevant,

 

But in any event, you really do see where some elements of the CAP series came from in Mark's early life. Darryl, Van, and Matt seem like they all sort of came together to create the Hayes archtype.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Is this story available anywhere? I really want to read it (even though it'll drive me batshit crazy that it isn't [apparently] complete).

Edited by impunity
Posted (edited)

Is this story available anywhere? I really want to read it (even though it'll drive me batshit crazy that it isn't [apparently] complete).

 

I actually linked each chapter under the title, but here it is:

 

On The Mark by Mark Arbour

 

He wrote this back in 2004 but decidedly ultimately that he didn't want to finish it, for very personal reasons that I won't go into because it's not my story to tell. I do have to hand it to Adam Phillips for being willing to go to the finish line with Cross-Currents, even though it took him 10 years, because he went to some VERY ugly places in that story that I can't imagine wanting to relive.

 

The interesting thing about this now is that it's set 40 years ago now. (It takes place from 1976 to 1980, I believe.) The attitudes and the world that Mark writes about here is largely vanished- nowadays, you have openly gay and trans MIDDLE school kids. And the whole cruising thing that Mark writes about is pretty much extinct, except maybe with older guys. It's just not worth it with the internet, and the possibility of ending up on Megan's List.

 

I do imagine that the house that Mark grew up in is either worth millions now, or someone bought it and demolished it with something else and it's also worth (many) more millions. The area that Mark grew up in doesn't sound cheap these days. Hell, isn't even Oakland starting to get pricey?

Edited by methodwriter85
  • Like 1
Posted

I actually linked each chapter under the title, but here it is:

 

On The Mark by Mark Arbour

 

 

Thanks. I'm not very observant. :rolleyes:

 

I read most of it this morning. I have to agree with Mike on the TMI; I started feeling a bit like a peeping Tom. (Does anyone still use that expression?) I an sure something that intensely personal must have been really difficult to write.

Posted

Thanks. I'm not very observant. :rolleyes:

 

I read most of it this morning. I have to agree with Mike on the TMI; I started feeling a bit like a peeping Tom. (Does anyone still use that expression?) I an sure something that intensely personal must have been really difficult to write.

 

It really does give you insight into how Mark would eventually develop CAP. The pot-smoking. The beefy, blond jock that's like a teddy bear. The straight boy who confuses the protagonist. The bad boy. The precociously sexually mature 14/15-year old. The occasional sexual roleplay. The important friendship with a female. (Who the gay/bi guy may or may not have had sex with.) And most importantly, the plotline of the affluent trying to help the less unfortunate.

 

If Mark's parents are still alive, I really, really hoped they manage to hold on to their house in the hills at least to the 2000's. An updated mid-century modern house in the hills of the Bay Area complete with a lap pool has to be worth a LOT!

 

But in any event, I do get why Mark had to stop. This really was intensely personal.

Posted

It really does give you insight into how Mark would eventually develop CAP. The pot-smoking. The beefy, blond jock that's like a teddy bear. The straight boy who confuses the protagonist. The bad boy. The precociously sexually mature 14/15-year old. The occasional sexual roleplay. The important friendship with a female. (Who the gay/bi guy may or may not have had sex with.) And most importantly, the plotline of the affluent trying to help the less unfortunate.

I definitely recognized the redhead-glory hole scene. :)

Posted (edited)

I definitely recognized the redhead-glory hole scene. :)

 

The one I really liked that the bit about Matt making fun of Mark for saying a car is "bad"- which would later be used in Be Rad, where Brad says Robbie's 1968 El Dorado is "bad" and Robbie wonders what's wrong with it.

 

Anyway, this bit from chapter 9 made me smile because gee, does this sound familiar or what?

 

He was about 6 feet tall, with sandy brown hair.  He was 5 years older thanme, in his early 20's, so he had fully developed.  All the guys that I hadbeen attracted to before had been like me: in high school.  Not Matt.  Hewas a man, and there was no question about it.  He had broad shoulders, astocky, not fat build, and big beefy arms.  His arms were so hot. He was abaseball player, and the big muscles were smoothed over by his silky skin,as if it was hiding his inner strength.  His whole persona, everythingabout him, proclaimed him as a strong alpha male.  No wonder the other guysfollowed his lead.

 

The only thing missing are violet blue eyes, but otherwise you get the general Hayes look. It kind of reminds me of what people say about "imprinting", and how the kind of people that you were into when you were an adolescent will still get you going as you get older.

 

I mean, I'll admit- there's still a part of me that will drool over a tall, lanky cute college guy wearing flip-flops, cargo shorts, and a polo shirt. Or tall lanky skater boys who had that late 90's Eric Balfour or Josh Hartnett thing going on. God, skater boys. I was still kind of upset about Mark not really including skater boys in CAP, which seemed off for circa 1998-2002, but whatever.

 

It's pretty clear that Mark's heart rests with the alpha male jocks, which is why they've featured so much in CAP, I think.

Edited by methodwriter85
  • Like 1
Posted

The one I really liked that the bit about Matt making fun of Mark for saying a car is "bad"- which would later be used in Be Rad, where Brad says Robbie's 1968 El Dorado is "bad" and Robbie wonders what's wrong with it.

 

 

I'd forgotten that bit. I need to get over my dislike of The Land Whore" and reread the rest of the earlier books.

 

I thought Van was more of an archetype for the Hayes, both look and personality. I don't think of Jeff or Robbie as being particularly alpha, although Matt certainly is.

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